Description

Mardi Gras starts on the right side of the wall, next to a wide, right-slanting crack. Head straight up to the bulging overlap. Pull the bulge and continue up and right on solid holds, sometimes jugs, sometimes thin. Balance and footwork is the key. At the smooth patina face, find a few key holds and crank through. Finish up and left over soft knobs and dishes (what I considered to be the crux) to reach the anchor. Rappel to descend.

I like this climb. The crux is moving up to and through the 3rd bolt, and if you're shorter the crux will be more committing. In the middle it eases quite a bit, but Chris M had the good taste to add a longer runout, which spices things up, especially if you're pumped from the crux. The finishing moves, stepping right and hauling up big jugs is a blast - don't relax though, as the final slabby bit will really grab your attention, and make you switch gears.

The original out of print guidebook gives it a 10b and the consensus among my party of 5 today was also 10B. although only clipping 3rd to 4th bolt was 10b rest was easy but still stiff moves approacing 3rd bolt to midway to 4th bolt was 10b

I think the rating depends on how you approach the third bolt, and how you exit at the top. I went the way that looked easiest to me at the low crux (traversing under the third bolt and then re-approaching with a pop left from the right), and it felt like 5.9. My climbing partner approached from straight under, a way I had disregarded, and it definitely looked harder that way.